New Comer

[Tgw61]

Hello everyone I'm new to this site but not to cll diagnosed in 2013.

[gardening-girl]

Greetings Tgw61! Welcome! Please tell us a bit about your CLL journey. Have you been on Watch & Wait since 2013? Do you have any particular questions? You will find that this site is loaded with experienced, knowledgable and compassionate individuals.

gardening-girl

[Tgw61 in reply to gardening-girl]

My journey, yes waiting and wondering all this time. Not alot of symptoms along the way mainly fatigue its gotten worse the last couple of years. White count finally reached 209k starting calquence soon.I'm still working (local truck driver)just wondering if ill feel like working after the calquence? Can I pass a D O T physical? No job no insurance.

[gardening-girl in reply to Tgw61]

Tgw, my prediction is that you will do very well on calquence/acalabrutinib, and that it will not interfere in any way with your job. I've been on ibrutinib/imbruvica, calquence's older sister for 6 years and it hasn't interfered in any way with my daily activities.

Don't be alarmed when you see increases in your white cell count (WBC) following treatment initiation. That's normal and happens as the calquence causes the CLL cells in lymph nodes to enter the peripheral blood.

I suggest that you ask your oncologist whether he/she thinks that you will need to take allopurinol during the first phases of your treatment. Because you have such a high tumor burden allopurinol may help protect your kidneys from the uric acid that is released when your CLL cells die.

[Jacksc06]

Hi. Welcome to the family, we are here to support you. Best wishes.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Tgw61,-

gardening-girl has given excellent suggestions.

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If you want to read up on many of the science advancements and review a basic education for newly diagnosed- please clink this link to one of our Pinned Posts. healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

It is long and contains tons of info, so take it gradually and refer back often.

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If you get stumped, just post your question, and one of us will try to help.

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Len

[Phil4-13]

Tgw61, Welcome to our group! I have found good information on this forum and many times a great sense of humor. We’ve become friends who share a common concern over this CLL “ride”. I’m 72, in W&W with a 72,000 WBC count. I have found encouragement from the postings and good general information to ask my doctor about. Ask your questions here and others will share their experiences and what their doctors are saying. Sandra🙂

[Hidden]

Hello and you found one heck of super group of special, helpful, caring, knowledgeable and funny people! Welcome and well wishes~ Cristal

*(husband diagnosed last year at 62).